“I would love to meet him. I’ve seen him knock a couple of people out. Pacquiáo’s really good”.
—R-Truth—

But right after praising Pacquiáo, Barrett has this to say: “If Manny Pacquiáo thinks he’s tough enough to step in the ring with Wade Barrett, make the challenge,” adding that he will “destroy” Pacman.

This “threat” may not be an empty one. Remember that two years ago, Pacquiáo embarrassed Englishman Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas. Hatton happens to be a cababayan of Barrett. “Ricky Hatton is from Manchester, where I’m from, so I was disappointed,” lamented the former WWE Intercontinental Champion and first ever WWE NXT winner. His disappointment, of course, was directed towards Hatton’s second-round KO loss to the Filipino boxing superstar.

Barrett could be out for vengeance to redeem national pride, albeit kayfabe (actually, Barrett’s from Preston).

This match, whether it be wrestling or boxing, will be a certified hit compared to the dud that was the match between The Big Show and Floyd Maycoward, Jr. in WrestleMania XXIV. For one: it is not widely known that Barrett was once a bare-knuckled boxer in Liverpool. And with his height and massive built, he could give Pacquiáo a run for his money. But to his discredit, Barrett has chosen sports entertainment and has been doing it for quite sometime. If ever he gets the opportunity to fight Pacman in a boxing match (WWE has had a couple of boxing matches in its history), he will need a lot of catching up to do. Pacquiáo’s lightning-speed and granite-hard punches are yet to be matched and conquered.

If it’s going to be a wrestling match, Pacquiáo could be on a disadvantage. Nevertheless, ever since his rise to superstardom, Pacquiáo has not been known to be a quitter. Though smaller compared to Barrett, he will prove to be a tough and stubborn opponent to beat.

The chances of Pacquiáo joining WWE, however, are quite slim given the fact that aside from boxing, the southpaw from Mindanáo is also a legislator. So when not busy with his boxing commitments, he has his hands full in representing the province of Sarangani to the House of Representatives.

Wade Barrett about to perform his signature finishing move, "Wasteland" (forward fireman's carry slam), on Daniel Bryan. Will he be able to do the same to Pacman? Only time will tell.

But Pacquiáo has proven everything there is to prove in the rough world of boxing. The fact is, there is no more need for him and his group to hound Maycoward. just to prove a point. Floyd’s a yellow has-been; there’s really no need to beat someone who can be easily beat.

It’s time, therefore, for Pacman to move to a more glitzy realm, and that is sports entertainment, i.e., professional wrestling. And when one speaks of professional wrestling, naturally only the WWE first comes to mind. The company has a huge fanbase not only in the US but all over the world. Pacquiáo showing up in that company even for just a few minutes will further catapult him —and our country— into the limelight, at least in the hodge-podge but swanky world of pop culture.

If ever, Pacman will be the first full-blooded Filipino to enter a WWE ring. And it’s not even Batista; he’s half-Greek. And whatever Filipino in him that is left, it was already far removed ever since his Filipino grandfather left the Philippines for good.

Anyway, Barrett has spoken. We await Pacman’s response. Poor Wade, though. He should never challenge a Filipino warrior to a bloodmatch. Ever.